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Childbirth

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Original poster

Pain relief after cs - is this excessive?

35 replies

PrincessScrumpy · 08/09/2011 12:49

On Tuesday 30 August I had my twins by emcs (36w +5). 6 hours later I was up and walked a few steps to a wheelchair to be taken to SCBU, where dtd1 was taken immediately after birth. Both ended up in SCBU and so I was on a ward nearby walkin back and forth to see them. I did every nappy change (standing) and feeds every 3 hours so was very active. I was not pain free at all but carried on as I wanted to be with my babies. On day 6 I requested more paracetamol and some codiene as I had very little left (self administrating). The mw was horrified and said as I was basically healthy I shouldn't need them but if I did I should provide them as it costs £10 to them but less than £1 for me to buy. However she wrote in my notes that my pain relief seemed excessive.

I was on:

2x Paracetamol 4 times a day (5 hours apart)
1 or 2 x codiene taken with paracetamol - I took 2 for the 1st 4 days, then on day 5 took 1 tablet with paracetamol twice, then none for the other 2 paracetamol doses. I regreted this in the night as I was getting up so much, and so on day 6 (when I popped home for 2 hours to see dd1 and wanted to be able to cope with 2 flights of stairs) I took a codeine in the morning and then before bed to help with night feeds/walks to SCBU. This was when I asked for more tablets and was told I was takin too many, despite following what the mw had written out.
a few ibruprofen spread out for first 3 days but I didn' find them affective so didn't bother after that. (probably took 6 in total).
I'm now day 10 and still taking occasional paracetamol. Pain is fine and I felt well managed.

Does this sound like I am a big wimp to take so much?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 09/09/2011 10:25

It's normal to self-medicate in hospital post-cs. It's so that you can manage the schedules when you get home. They give you charts and clear instructions and they then know you are able to manage it and keep your own pain levels under control before discharge. I was taught to administer my own heparin injections. I found it really weird sitting in a hospital, injecting myself. But I'm having to do it at home now so it made sense that I got used to it.

I'm still horrified by this a day later. Excessive pain relief ffs. It's only excessive it it's not proportional to the pain you're in and if there was any remote suggestion that you were needing more pain relief than average, maybe they should look at why instead of chuntering and huffing at you about medication costs.

woopsidaisy · 09/09/2011 13:36

Hi PrincessScrumpy. Congrats on the new arrival!
I was a nurse on a ward that did abdo surgery,and that is in no way excessive. In fact we encouraged the regular use of paracetamol as it will help to prevent pain. So we would have given paracetamol 4 times a day,and diclofenac morning and night. And alternative pain relief if required.
Your MW sounds like a right cow.
Just a word of warning,codeine often comes with paracetamol,so make sure your not taking paracetamol unawares.
And how the hell can it cost £10 for paracetamol?!?

Original poster
PrincessScrumpy · 09/09/2011 13:42

My GP popped round this morning to see how we are and to check the hospital gave me penicillin for my wound infection - I wasn't aware I had one but it makes sense and explains the pain and slight swelling. I thought I'd just done too much bending etc. He was also shocked I only had 7 days of iron as my notes state I had "excessive blood loss". They seem to like that word.

99% of the mw were lovely and I did complain. Ended up talking to the head midwife who was apologetic but sat a bit on the fence, and then the lead mw came and spoke to me the next day, full of apologies, stating it should never have happened etc, completely on my side. She gave me her email and direct phone number. Might have something to do with the fact my notes include dh's career - journalist - News editor. Call my cynical! Grin

OP posts:
girliefriend · 09/09/2011 13:44

not at all excessive I was taking pain killers every 2 hrs after my emcs, I think (it was 5yrs ago!!) I was taking paracetamol and codeine and diclofenac inbetween times. It is bloody painful having your stomach cut open!!! Stupid midwife, I wonder how many c.sections she has had Angry

I do remember though that when I ran out of the drugs the ward had given me, that even though I was still in hospital as my dd was on scbu I rang my gp surgery for more painkillers.

Original poster
PrincessScrumpy · 09/09/2011 13:46

Thank you everyone. woopsidaisy the girl opposite me was a "healthy attender" as her baby was in scbu with breathing problems at 5weeks. The same mw told her it was costing £100 a day for her to have the bed. The wards are rooms of 4 and there were still loads of empty beds. She wan't having food etc, just her sheets changed once a week. We'd all become close so suggested we get an airbed for the corner of the room!

OP posts:
woopsidaisy · 09/09/2011 13:51

Sheets changed once a week! I have heard it all now....

There is always one fly in the ointment...

harrygracejessica · 09/09/2011 21:40

Im another that took occassional painkillers - diclofenic in hospital but left and only took it in the evenings then as siezed up during the night - had bad hips while pregnant. (had one planned c-sec and 2 emcs both with twins) There is no ight and wrong though but i wouldnt say yours were drastically excessive!!

Highlander · 10/09/2011 12:51

I had Volterol straight after the CS but then just Ibuprofen and paracetamol.

Like the OP, was up and about the same day.

Everyone is different!

Inflames · 10/09/2011 23:15

Not excessive at all - I had 36 hours of failed induction with contractions every 3 mind, followed by swift EMCS. My BP crashed due to rare side effect of epidural to 70/46. I lost just over 1.5 litres of blood. I was very very unwell and hadn't slept for 50 hours.

9 hours later I was move up to postnatal ward, docs told me before I went to ask for morphine when I go to ward as I very much needed rest. The night MW, when I relayed the request, tutted and said 'you're a mother now not a patient, you can have 2 paracetamol'. I was hysterical 3 hours later when she finally phoned doc after suggesting I wa having a breakdown first - doc took 1 look, discovered dressing had come off so wound was rubbing on sheets and asked by I hadn't been given pain relief as prescribed - the bitch lied and told him I hadn't asked for it.

She was on the second night I was in.

I discharged myself because of her.

Every single other member of staff I encountered was brilliant, without exception.

Inflames · 10/09/2011 23:16

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack there - cathartic post :-)

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